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Kenya's post-election peril

Kenyan activists hold signs to call for a peaceful presidential election, in front of the venue where the country's first ever presidential debate is being held in Nairobi, Kenya, 11 February 2013. EPA/DAI KUROKAWA

Can Kenya avoid a repeat of the 2007 post-election violence that killed and displaced thousands? Comment below.

Although Kenya's 2010 constitution aimed to fix long-standing issues including land disputes and ethnic tensions, these problems remain unresolved and could once again contribute to election-related violence. What should be done to ensure the March 4 elections are free, fair and peaceful? Join the conversation at 1930GMT.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Karuti Kanyinga
Professor, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

Kenya's post-election peril

Kenyans are gearing up to vote, but has the country recovered from the last election's violence?

On March 4, Kenyans will for the first time elect county and local officials. All eyes, however, are on the presidential elections. The two leading candidates are current Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. In the latest poll, Odinga led Kenyatta with a narrow margin of 45 per cent to 43 per cent. Here is a video of a rally for Odinga's party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM):

BUSIA COUNTY ODM RELOADED.movmypmps

Here is a video of a rally for Kenyatta's party, the Jubilee Coalition:

Jubilee Coalition Rally in RongaiUhuruKenyattaTV

This presidential campaign has seen many firsts, including Kenya's first televised debate between the candidates.

Kenya Presidential DebateAJstream

Here, Kenyans from different regions react to the debate:

Regional Reactions To The Presidential Debatek24tv

The Stream hosted a Twitter chat after the presidential debate to feature some of the vibrant online conversation among Kenyan netizens and other observers.

#KEDebate13 First topic: tribalism. Second topic: ICC. Good to see this debate starting off with some serious questions. #kotAJEJohanna Wilkie

@mmbilal A4 There is little or no correlation between performance in #KEDebate13 and in the election. Made-up minds… #kotAJESunny Bindra

@mmbilal A6. Debate hasn't changed my vote but has given insight on areas where candidates have very huge holes in their arguments.#kotAjeYenyewe

Kenya's general elections will be the first test of its new constitution, which was ratified in 2010. Here, a Kenyan legal scholar explains the new constitution and the challenges facing its implementation:

George Kegoro: The New Kenyan Constitutionopensocietyinstitute

The new Kenyan constitution prevents any single ethnic-based party from winning outright, but Kenyan ethnic identities remain entrenched:

kenya ethnicityAJstream

Many netizens have argued that tribal politics are still playing a significant role in this election, despite the constitutional reforms:

#KotAJE A1: we can all say tribalism is a bad thing, but which of them will take it on - at personal political cost?Sunny Bindra

@mmbilal many candidates used the constitution as their defence which doesn't tackle tribalism. #kotAJE #KEDebate13Carol Oyola

@mmbilal A1 Tribal politics plays a huge part in the politics here. On a public platform the leading candidates wouldn't admit to it.#kotajeYenyewe

We are still wearing our tribal hats, it also happens online. It may take slightly longer to eradicate #KOTAjeStephen Musyoka

Kenya's last election in 2007 resulted in unprecedented violence. Photojournalist Jordan Inaan compiled this account of the violent fallout from the disputed election.

[Note: This video contains graphic images]

Kenya Post election violencejordaninaan11

The "I am Kenyan" photography project encourages Kenyan voters to upload photos of themselves to pledge their commitment to a non-violent 2013 general election.

I am KenyanAJstream

Since the 2007 elections, netizens have increasingly used social media to identify and condemn hate speech and incitement to violence. In September 2012, a widely circulated YouTube video led to the arrest of Ferdinand Waititu, a Kenyan junior member of parliament. In the following video, he calls for violence against members of the Maasai ethnic group:

Waititu in incitement remarksNTVKenya

Technology is playing a major role in efforts to prevent violence from erupting during this election cycle. Crowdmapping platform Ushahidi ("testimony") crowdsourced reports of violence during the aftermath of the 2007 elections. Their newest effort is Uchaguzi, which tracks election-related incidents including violence, voter fraud allegations and hate speech. Uchaguzi was developed by five Kenyan programmers from various ethnic groups.

UchaguziAJstream

The Kenyan newspaper, the Daily Nation, has launched a dedicated election site with a “sentiment tracker” focused on the candidates: